The Blue Mountains’ best places to eat and drink

When eccentric hotelier Mark Foy, in the early 20th century, installed a flying fox to transport fresh vegetables and meat from his Megalong Valley farm to his behemoth Hydro Majestic Hotel perched on the edge of the Blue Mountains escarpment, he unwittingly started a trend that would be revisited more than 100 years later – paddock-to-plate dining.

With a focus on supporting local growers and suppliers, the Blue Mountains dining scene – for so long stuck in that dismal ‘small town’ vortex – is burgeoning, with new and established restaurants providing plenty of choice for weekend visitors (mid-week, not so much … the Blue Mountains is still a big country town at heart, after all!).

Arrana

Arrana: Two degustation menus are inspired by Blue Mountains landscapes.

Fine dining infused with Indigenous flavours
Located in an unassuming arcade in Springwood, Arrana surprises and delights in every aspect, from its knowledgeable service to its delectable fine dining menu, created with loving attention to detail from native Australian ingredients by local wunderkind, Daniel Cabban. Two degustation menus inspired by Blue Mountains landscapes are on offer: the four-course Darrbi menu, and the seven-course Marri menu, with the option of wine pairing. Expect unusual offerings, such as emu served with rhubarb, lilly pilly and cherry, or Douglas fir with sunflower, Illawarra plum and shiitake mushrooms. Vegetarians will not be disappointed in their adaptations, with each ingredient treated with respect and creativity.
9/12-125 Macquarie Rd, Springwood. Phone: [phone]. See arrana.com.au

Zoe’s

Zoe’s bar and restaurant in Blackheath serves innovative Mexican fare under the watch of chef Will Cowan-Lunn.Credit: Lauren Commens

Join the fiesta with tacos and margs
Huzzah! There’s now a reason to go out at night in Blackheath – traditionally a town where you’re tucked into bed and snoring by 9pm. Run by former Tetsuya’s and Rockpool chef Will Cowan-Lunn and business partner Terry Tan – the same team behind neighbouring Ateş - Zoe’s is a cavernous Mexican-style cocktail bar with a lively vibe, with weekend gigs, open mic nights and Monday-night trivia embraced by entertainment-starved locals. The small but enticing menu has Mexican staples like fish, cauliflower and beef brisket tacos, seafood langostinos and chipotle de pollo, with a selection of margaritas and mezcal-based cocktails to wash it down.
35 Govetts Leap Rd, Blackheath. Phone: [phone]. See zoesblackheath.com

Kickaboom

Kickaboom delivers with great coffee and classics with an Asian twist in a minimalist setting.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Surry Hills meets the bush in Bohemian Glenbrook
You don’t have to travel far up the Mountains to get a taste of the booming café scene in the region. Kickaboom is a breezy, minimalist joint located on Glenbrook’s main street that delivers both for a caffeine fix and a hearty brunch, with unique takes on Asian-style dishes and café standards that become addictive weekly fixes. Think gado gado served with lotus crisps; an eggplant burger with a magical Szechuan mayo; and the Not Pulled Pork Toastie, made from jackfruit. The extensive drinks menu features Birdsnake hot chocolate, a turmeric, ginger and honey latte, and a Speculatte made from spiced Dutch biscuits; while for coffee aficionados, beans come from specialty roasters such as Reuben Hills, Seven Seeds and Sample.
6 Ross St, Glenbrook. kickaboom.com.au

Blaq

Nestled in a revamped retro motel, Blaq rests on a hyper-local menu philosophy.

Championing local flavours, from garden to plate
Under the vision of former Hydro Majestic chef Mate Herceg, Blaq is a salute to hyper-local, from garden-grown veggies to producers from the Greater Blue Mountains and Central Ranges. Located in the Kyah Boutique Hotel – a ’70s-style motel recently given a ‘Palm Springs’ makeover – Blaq is a large, elegant space overlooking a sprawling hundred-year-old cherry tree said to be the oldest in the region. The menu is designed to be shared, with a ‘charred and grilled’ section for heftier signature plates, such as house-aged kangaroo fillets served with puy lentils, red cabbage, pickled walnuts and wild game jus. The wine list, curated by sommelier Andres Aragon, exclusively features NSW wines, and was recently awarded Best Wine List in a Regional NSW Accommodation Venue 2022.
13-17 Brightlands Ave, Blackheath. Phone: [phone]. See thekyah.com.au

Cinnabar Kitchen

Cruise the world on a plate
The latest offering from local stalwarts Corinne Evatt and Mary-Jane Craig, the intimate Cinnabar Kitchen represents the culmination of a celebrated culinary journey, with a menu that distils inspiration from their varied food styles over the years. The restaurant’s motto invites diners to “travel the world in one night” - from Thailand to Jamaica, Morocco to Ethiopia - with share dishes that pop with colour, texture and intriguing flavour combinations. Start with a wild scallop tartare with wakame, Asian herbs and pickled ginger; then follow with a sizzling Jamaican prawn pot or a Persian pumpkin dish with medjool dates and feta sabzi, embellished with a pearl millet pilaf.
246 Great Western Highway, Blackheath. Phone: [phone]. See cinnabar.kitchen

Tempus Katoomba

Waste not, want not in this modern Australian newcomer
There’s an air of youthful positivity in this new addition to Katoomba’s dining scene, located in a converted historic bank on Katoomba’s main drag. Seasonality and sustainability are at the heart of Tempus’ ethos, from an emphasis on using local produce to create meals that reflect the four distinct seasons of the Blue Mountains, to its commitment to minimising food waste. The team dehydrates, powders, preserves and pickles any excess food, allowing them to create playful and innovative dishes with food that would usually be discarded. A duck breast lashed with an apricot glazed is served with house-made kimchi; while vegans are also well looked after, with offerings such as roast capsicum stuffed with white bean, pesto, basmati and tarator topped with sourdough crumb. The restaurant also serves a mean breakfast in its Tempus Up Early incarnation.
66 Katoomba St, Katoomba. Phone: [phone]. See tempuskatoomba.com

Bootlegger Bar

Born from a love of smoked meats and whisky, this Katoomba joint is where locals go to kick on.

A flame-licked slice of the American South in Katoomba
When 30-something Kelly Walls first moved to the Mountains, she discovered a less-than-vibrant nightlife, with few cool bars where she’d want to hang out. So she created her own, focused around her two passions – smoked meats and whisky. A hardworking smoker pumps out hearty Southern BBQ and Cajun-style meals, including pulled pork or a Rangers Valley Black Onxy brisket, both served with obligatory slaw, pickles and corn. The impressive bar is stocked with a wide selection of global spirits, from local award-winners Karu to rare Japanese pure malt whiskeys; and with live music on the weekend and a new rooftop tiki bar, Bootlegger is the place to kick on into the night.
92 Bathurst Rd, Katoomba. Phone: [phone]. See bootleggerbar.com.au

Ateş

Middle Eastern innovation
The recipient of one Chef Hat in the 2023 Good Food Awards, Ateş (the Turkish/Ottoman word for ‘fire’) occupies arguably the Blue Mountains’ most famous restaurant space (formerly Vulcan’s until 2014, followed by Vesta), with a 150-year-old wood-fuelled oven creating smoky Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours under the watchful eye of chef and co-owner Will Cowan-Lunn. Appearing on the menu may be heirloom zucchini with smoked eggplant and labne; or perhaps a wood-roasted pork neck with honey-thyme peaches and vin cotto, all mopped up with delicious crusty bread fresh from the oven. The commitment to sourcing ingredients from local growers – including Malfroy’s wild honey and veggies from social enterprise Farm it Forward - extends to the wine list, with Megalong Valley wines such as Darragh Chardonnay and Shiraz holding pride of place.
33 Govetts Leap Rd, Blackheath. Phone: [phone]. See atesblackheath.com

Bowery

Find mod-Oz dishes and cocktails that champion locally-produced spirits at this colourful newcomer in a converted church.

Makeover mastery sets the Katoomba dining scene alight
Katoomba’s newest restaurant is located in one of its most historic buildings – the former St Andrew’s Church, with its turreted tower, original stain glass windows and exposed beams. Much loved in its former cutesy incarnation as The Gingerbread House, the space has been given a jaw-dropping makeover, its Bohemian decor of birdcages, avian art, rustic communal tables and a colourful bar evoking a chorus of “wow!” from enthusiastic locals. Presented by the team behind the Avalon Restaurant, the new look is matched by an exciting Modern Australian brunch and dinner menu, with a wide choice of options from a plant-based taco trio to a pan-seared sirloin served with a bush pepper berry sauce. The cocktails are equally enticing and created with locally made spirits.
56-64 Waratah St, Katoomba. Phone: [phone]. See bowerykatoomba.com.au

Darley’s

Soak in the olde world opulence at Darley’s, inside the landmark Lilianfels resort.Credit: Destination NSW

Old school, but never out of style
The Blue Mountains’ most celebrated restaurant, Darley’s continues to set the bar for fine dining in the Blue Mountains. Occupying the historic 100-year-old homestead of Sir Frederick Darley in the manicured grounds of Lilianfels Resort & Spa, Darley’s simply drips with olde world opulence – think crystal chandeliers, stained-glass windows, designer wallpaper and two roaring open fireplaces. A three-course degustation menu showcases seasonal produce largely sourced from within 80 kilometres, including Mandagery Creek Venison (from Orange) and Australian White lamb from Oberon.
5/19 Lilianfels Ave, Katoomba. Phone: [phone]. See darleysrestaurant.com.au

High Tea at the Wintergarden

An elegant high tea at Wintergarden with vistas stretching across the Mountains.Credit: Destination NSW

An experience as iconic as its venue
No visit to the Blue Mountains is complete without indulging in High Tea at the historic Hydro Majestic hotel, the eccentric white edifice that clings to the escarpment at Medlow Bath. Walk through the domed Casino into the Wintergarden Restaurant and be wowed by incredible views of the bucolic, mist-filled Megalong Valley through floor-to-ceiling windows; then, enjoy the pomp as you feast off three-tiered platters, accompanied by the tinkle of a grand piano. As well as a standard High Tea with a selection of pastries, finger sandwiches, petit fours and scones with jam and clotted cream, there’s an Eastern High Tea featuring steamed dumplings and a selection of Asian-style desserts. An experience not to be missed.
Hydro Majestic Hotel, 52-88 Great Western Highway, Medlow Bath. Phone: [phone]. See hydromajestic.com.au

Fed Blue Mountains

A visit to Fed is like a warm hug. Don’t leave without raiding the sweets.

Comfort food in a comfort setting
Locals adore this long-standing café, for good reason – the coffee is good, the food is generous and delicious, and the cakes and pastries are to die for. Open for breakfast and lunch, a visit to Fed is like a warm hug, with refreshingly reliable quality. Ogle the enticing selection of sweets laid out before you downstairs; or head up the narrow staircase to relax in home-style rooms, including a cosy enclosed veranda. Try the signature ‘The Stack’ for breakfast – white sourdough topped with avocado, haloumi, hash brown, bacon, fried egg and house-made salsa – and you won’t need to eat for the rest of the day.
6 Station St, Wentworth Falls. Phone: [phone]. See fedbluemountains.com.au